Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and starting QB Everett Golson lead the Fighting Irish, who are coming off a 9-4 season and a victory in the Pinstripe Bowl, against the Rice Owls, who won the Conference USA title for their first solo conference championship 57 years, and reached 10 wins for just the third time since 1949.

Dan Hicks (@DanHicksNBC), NBC Sports Group’s longtime and critically-acclaimed golf and Olympic commentator, returns as play-by-play voice for NBC Sports’ Notre Dame Football coverage this season. He will be joined by Emmy Award-nominated analyst Mike Mayock and sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen (@KathrynTappen), who joined NBC Sports Group this year as a reporter and studio host.

Liam McHugh (@liam_mchugh) will host Countdown To Kickoff at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, on-site at Notre Dame Stadium. He will be joined by 1984 Heisman Trophy Winner Doug Flutie (@DougFlutie) and two-time Super Bowl champion Hines Ward (@MVP86HinesWard). McHugh, Flutie and Ward will also manage half-time and post-game coverage for the broadcast.

In addition to his studio duties, Flutie will also provide analysis from the sidelines during the game, analyzing specific matchups and key plays from his unique perspective.

DOUG FLUTIE ONE-ON-ONE WITH EVERETT GOLSON

Flutie sat down with Notre Dame starting quarterback Everett Golson to discuss his return to the Fighting Irish after missing the 2013 season due to academic impropriety, and his expectations for the upcoming season.

Golson on learning of his 2013 suspension: “Everything flashed in front of me. Initially, you feel completely embarrassed…humiliated…you feel like you let your team down.”

Golson on using suspension as motivation: “I had to grow up…I had to mature…I think I learned a lot about myself, and now I’m able to come back and take what I’ve learned and instill it in this team.”

NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA ONLINE & APP:NBC Sports Live Extra — the NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will stream all Notre Dame Football home games.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

NBC Sports Live Extra online will feature a simulcast of the broadcast feed in full HD quality plus one additional online-only bonus camera. The video player will include picture-in-picture capability and full DVR functionality, allowing the user to pause the live video and even review plays in “slo-mo.”

Sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen will provide live in-game tweets from the sideline from @NDonNBC on Twitter. Additionally, fans can watch in-game highlights, live coverage of the Notre Dame and visiting teams’ bands at halftime, as well as live postgame footage that will include head coach Brian Kelly’s press conference.

NBCSPORTS.com

NBCSports.com will again continue its Notre Dame Football coverage though its Notre Dame Central section. Notre Dame will also be featured within NBC Sports Talk with its popular Inside The Irish blog written by Notre Dame Football insider Keith Arnold.

COMCAST SPORTSNET CHICAGO

For the second-straight year, Comcast SportsNet Chicago will continue its expanded coverage of Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football via its partnership with NBC Sports by providing additional content to help power NBCSports.com’s popular Notre Dame Central section
(http://www.nbcsports.com/notredamecentral) Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s Notre Dame Football “Insider” JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) from CSNChicago.com, will serve as the primary beat reporter in providing up-to-the-minute Fighting Irish news and analysis, columns, game previews/recaps, interviews and much more.

SAME DAY HOME GAME REPLAYS – Beginning with the team’s home/season opener on Saturday, August 30 vs. Rice, Comcast SportsNet Chicago will provide a same day replay of every Notre Dame home game produced by NBC Sports with the Aug. 30 replay scheduled to air at 11 p.m. CT. Additional home game replays airing on Comcast SportsNet this season include games against Michigan (Sept. 6 at 1 a.m.), Purdue (Sept. 13 at 1 a.m.), Stanford (Oct. 4), North Carolina (Oct. 11), Northwestern (Nov. 15) and Louisville (Nov. 22). (NOTE: Replay airings to regularly take place on these Saturdays at 11 p.m.; fans are urged to consult CSNChicago.com for exact air times).

HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY’s WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE – CSNChicago.com will provide a live stream of Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly’s weekly press conference, as he will address the prior weekend’s game, along with detailing his game plan against the team’s upcoming opponent. Coach Kelly’s weekly press conference, which will take place from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., will be live streamed every Tuesday throughout the season at 11 a.m.

“INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL” w/BRIAN KELLY – Once again, Comcast SportsNet will be the local TV home for “Inside Notre Dame Football” with Head Coach Brian Kelly this season. The weekly, half-hour show will feature key highlights, along with detailed discussion & analysis regarding the team’s previous game and an X’s and O’s preview of their upcoming opponent. “Inside ND Football” will make its 2014 season premiere on Tuesday, September 2 in its regular 5 p.m. CT time slot. (NOTE: This Tuesday afternoon program may air on occasion at 4:30 p.m. CT should there be live pro event airing at 6 p.m. that evening). Fans can follow Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s @CSNIrish Twitter handle for the very latest Fighting Irish news and updates 24/7.

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL ON NBC

Following this Saturday’s game against Rice, the Fighting Irish host longtime rival the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2014 Notre Dame football season continues Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, when the Fighting Irish host the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., in the 2014 iteration of the Shamrock Series.

The 2014 schedule also includes games against Stanford on Saturday, Oct. 4; North Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 11; Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 15; and Louisville on Saturday, Nov. 22. All four of those games are slated for 3:30 p.m. ET kickoffs on NBC.

The following is the NBC Sports Group 2014 Notre Dame Football schedule (all times ET)

Date

Opponent

Pre-Game

Network

Game Time

Network

Saturday, Aug. 30

Rice

3 p.m.

NBC

3:30 p.m.

NBC

Saturday, Sept. 6

Michigan

6:30 p.m.

NBCSN

7:30 p.m.

NBC

Saturday, Sept. 13

Purdue*

6:30 p.m.

NBCSN

7:30 p.m.

NBC

Saturday, Oct. 4

Stanford

3 p.m.

NBC

3:30 p.m.

NBC

Saturday, Oct. 11

North Carolina

3 p.m.

NBC

3:30 p.m.

NBC

Saturday, Nov 15

Northwestern

3 p.m.

NBC

3:30 p.m.

NBC

Saturday, Nov 22

Louisville

3 p.m.

NBC

3:30 p.m.

NBC

*2014 Shamrock Series at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.

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